Announcing apparatus



Feb. 22, 1944.

H. E.-RE EVE$ ANNOUNC ING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet l Fild July 29. 1941 INVENTOR HAZARD E. Reeves A I'ORNEY m1 "m MLF Feb. 22, 1944. H. E. REEVES ANNOUNCING APPARATUS Filed July 2 9, 1941 :s Sheets-Sheet 2 it M II II/ INVENTOR HA 2/1/20 E. REEVES Feb. 22, 1944. REEVES ANNOUNCING APPARATUS Filed July 29, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. 9

, INVENTOE HAZARD L. REEvEa A ORNEY Patented Feb. 22, 1944 UNITED STATES harem OFFICE 17 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in announcing systems and has particular although not necessarily exclusive relation to a time controlled announcing system.

The objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein a satisfactory embodiment of the invention is shown. However, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the details disclosed but includes all such variations and modifications as fall within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view showing an announcing apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the apparatus; I

Fig. 3 is a rear elevational view taken as looking from the right in Fig. 2;

Fig 4 is a side elevational view of the lens system employed;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view taken as along the line 55 of Fig. 4;

Fig 6 is a transverse sectional view taken as along line 66 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 shows the wiring diagram;

Fig. 8 is a detail view showing a slight modi-' fication of the switching means employed; and

Fig. 9 shows a modified wiring diagram.

Fig. 10 is a view of the apparatus adapted to a plurality of film rolls.

Referring in detail to the drawings the present apparatus is shown as mounted on a casting generally designated l and which includes a bottom or plate-like portion ll provided intermediate its ends with a bearing member l2 receiving the lower end of a shaft l3. A drum I4 is rotatably mounted by the shaft l3 and forms a film support as will later more fully appear. An electric motor I is supported at the upper side of platelike portion H as upon a plate IS in turn supported by posts I! on the base.

This motor is equipped with suitable reduction gearing (not shown) and drives a vertical shaft 18 to which is secured a plate l9 having a tapered upper side on which is a block 20. At the under side of the plate l9 and fastened to the plate or directly to the shaft I8 is a pulley 2!. A belt 22 trained over said pulley passes about the drum l4 as shown, whereby the motor [5 serves to rotate the plate 19, the central block Cir if: on the upper side of said plate and. the drum An idler pulley 23 is supported by anarm 24 on the upper end of a post 25 received in a part 26 of the casting ID. A thumb screw 2'! secures the post 25 in the desired position of vertical adjustment. A coil spring 28 has one end secured to the post 25 as at 23 and its other end 30 is connected with the arm 24 constantly tending to swing the same and thus maintaining the idler 23 against the belt 22. On turning ofthe bar 25 in the socket 26 and thereafter tightening the thumb screw 21 the tension at which the coil spring 28 forces the idler 23 against the belt may be increased or decreased.

A roll of film 3| is disposed on the tapered upper side of the disc l9 and about the block 20. This roll of film has a hollow center and is disposed about the block 20 and the film is fed from the center of the roll about the drum l4 and back to the outer side of the roll, it being understood that the film is endless. The surface on which the fihn rests being tapered as shown there is a tendency of the film to open whereby it is easily and smoothly fed from its center. Due to the fact that the film is fed from a smaller diameter than that on which it is rewound it must be handled in such manner as to permit of a certain slippage and this is provided for by the tapering of the surface'of disc 13. In Fig. 1 the lead from the center of the roll is shown at 32 and thefilm is carried outwardly about a guide pulley 33 and then rearwardly at 34 and overand between guide rollers 35 and 36, the latter serving to hold the film against the drum as at 31. At 38 where the belt 22 comes into driving relation with the drum M such belt lies overa portion of the film and the upper portion of the film (designated 39 in Fig. 2) projects above the drum The action of the belt 22 holds the film' [4. against the drum so that the film moves steadily and accurately with the drum. At the other side of the drum the film leaves the same and this portion of the film is designated 40 in Fig. l and it passes over a tapered guide roll M and back to the outer side of roll 3|.

As the film leaves the center of roll 3| it passes over a guide pulley 42 supported by an arm 43 and such guide pulley may be adjusted along the arm 63 to the extent of the slot 44 in said arm.'

Associated with the guide pulleys 33 and 42 are rollers 33a and 42a respectively serving to maintainthe film in proper relation to the pulleys.

Arm 43 is pivotally mounted on an arm 45 as through the use of a thumb screw 46 whereby pivotal adjustments may be made and the arm 35 is in turn supported on a post 41 mounted in a socket it formed as part of the casting It. A thumb screw 45-. provides a means for securing the post "31 in the desired position of vertical adjustment.

On the outer portion of the arm 45 is a guide roller adjustable along the arm as provided for by the slot SI and such roller is against the other side of the film roll 3i so as to keep the latter confined. The pulley 33 above referred to is supported on the outer end of an arm 52 which latter is carried by the upper end of a post 53 supported from a socket member 54 comprising part of the casting I0. A thumb screw 55 provides means for securing post 53 in an adjusted position.

Supported intermediately of the arm 52 is an arm 56 adjustably secured in place as by a thumb screw 51 and support ng a roller 58 also bearing against the outer side of the film roll 3|. A flat arm 59 is secured on the arm 56 as by means including a wing nut Eli and such flat arm serves to hold the film roll against stacking. Guide rolls-35 and 36 above referred to are supported by an arm 6| secured to the upper end of a post 62 having its lower end disposed at a socket 63 comprising a part of casting ID. A thumb screw 64 secures the post 62 in the desired posit on of vertical adjustment.

The parts above described are located at one side of the drum I4 and comprises the means for rotating the drum and feeding the film to and about the same. The control and reproducing means of the announcer are shown as generally located at the other side of the drum. Supported by a step-like portion 65 of the casting I0 is a light source 65 substantially enclosed by a hood 61 having an opening 68 in the front wall thereof. At 66a is shown an arm engaging the center contact of lamp 66.

Actually the casting portion 65 is split as at 68 and a screw 69 is used todraw these split portions toward one another to clamp the base or socket of the light source 66. The hood 61 may be secured in a desired manner and as here shown is releasably secured in place by spring clips 10. A tubular device 14 containing the lens system is clamped in place by the tightening of a screw 12 passing through the bifurcated portions of the portion 13 of the casting and it is noted (see Fig. 2) that one end of the device 1| aligns with the hood opening 68 While the other end aligns with the upper portion 39 of the film.

A rotatably adjustable bracket 14 clampingly receives a photo electrio cell the socket of which is shown at 18. On loosening of the screw 11 the cell may be removed by replacement and upon loosening of the thumb screw 18 the bracket 14 may be adjusted on the support 14a to adjust the photo-electric cell. The lens system disclosed comprises a bar-like structure 19 having a small opening 80 there through and at one end out out as at 82. Into such end is entered the reduced portion of a plug or end 83 having an opening 84 aligning with the opening 80.

At the respective ends of the opening portions 80 and 84 pieces 85 and 86 of a glass rod are disposed and such pieces traverse the mentioned openings and are secured in place in any desired manner. In the socket portion 82 of the part 18 a pair of plates 81 and 88 are secured as by small screws 89 and these plates are substantially half discs and have their flat edges spaced as desired to provide the desired slot for the passage of light.

Any time control device 90 is mounted on the base or casting I0 and includes an arm 9| which is continually rotated as about the center 92. In Fig. 1 the arm 9| is shown as engaging the switch 93 and maintaining it closed and as about to engage the switch 94 to close it. A third switch 95 is provided with the roller 96 which rolls against the film on the drum l4. Such film at the desired spaced intervals is provided with notches and as such notches pass the roller 86 the latter engages the drum and grounds the circuit stopping the apparatus. The apparatus includes the transformer SI, amplifier tubes 98, tone and Volume controls 99 and H38, and condensers II, which latter serve to eliminate electrical interference from certain switches employed as will be described.

The circuit of the device is shown in Fig. 7 and at I02 are the connections preferably to a volt alternating current source. In said circuit are the amplifier and motor switches 93 and 94. The amplifier is generally designated H4 and has the transformer 91 associated therewith. A pair of relays I64 and I 05 havenormally closed switch means I06 and I01 associated therewith and of which the movable elements I08'and I 99 comprise the armatures of the relays.

In Fig. '7 the drum I 4 is groundedat III], the transformer at II 2 and the light source 66 at H3. The switches 93 and 94 are normally open and in the operation of the device are only momentarily closed as by, the arm 9! of the time controlled device 90 although it will be apparent that such switches may be closed manually if desired. Preferably the devive 99, when employed, is a synchronous motor driven device and in such instance may be connected with the terminals I02 so as to be constantly operating when the device is connected.

Initially the arm 9! engages the switch closing the same to have the amplifier heat up to be ready for use. Thereafter the arm 9i momentarily closes the switch 94 and this shorts out the relay Hi4 permitting the armature I98 to.

rise and make contact closing switch Hi5. When the switch 94 shorts out the relay I94 the motor is driven and feeds the film as above set forth. At this time, the circuit is closed through the motor since switches I05 and H31 are both closed The machine operates and makes any desired announcement as may be recorded on the film; and then one of the notches I I 6 in the film comes opposite the roller 55 and the same engages the drum closing the circuit through the drum from the transformer and energizing the relay H35.

When this occurs the armature I69 ofswitch I01 is drawn downwardly breaking the motor circuit as the switch E lis now open and the-current passing through coil IM energizes it to at-- tract armature I98 opening switch Hi6. Instantly the switch I 01 opena'the relay Iihi is again energized and opens switch Hi6 by attracting its armature Hi8; and the switch at was already open. Relay I04 no longer being shorted out of the circuit motor I5 isnot functioning. By momentum the drum moves sufdcient to carry any particular notch H6 beyond the roller 535 so that such roller only momentarily closes the. cire cuit through relay Hi5, and when the machine comes to a stop the roller is again engaging the film and is insulated from the drum. As the motor begins to drive the film roll 3I is rotated so that film is fed from the center of the roll and the film forms a loose spiral as shown adjacent the idler 42 and the film is fed from the spiral and trained about the drum l4. Belt 22 being driven and being disposed over a part of that portion of the film which is on the drum serves to rotate the drum and to hold the film in fixed relation therewith.

The sound track is in the upper exposed portion of the film, designated 39 in Fig. 2, and the light from the source 66 (reduced to a narrow Vertical beam by the lens system H) is directed. through this portion of the film to the cell 15. Such cell through the leads I I5 is connected with the amplifier II4. Any message or the like on the film is thus transcribed and amplified and broadcast.

At desired intervals the film is provided with the notches IIS and when one of these notches comes opposite the roll 96 the latter engages directly the metal drum I4 grounding the circuit and stopping the device. Attention is directed to the fact that the various guide rolls have reduced diameter portions II1 adjacent their upper ends and this construction is used since the recorded portion will not then come into engage ment with any portions of such guide rollers.

The announcer system of the invention may be made up to use as an advertising device or as a device for giving warnings or the like. For example, the film has recorded thereon time intervals concerning each hour or part thereof of z the day. Each such announcement is complete in itself. These announcements are separated by the notches H6 in the film and as the device is set for automatic operation the time device 93 will each minutes set the machine into operation so that it will make an announcement of the time and such announcement could be accompanied by an advertising announcement such as that the time was being given by the courtesy of a watch company or the like.

After an announcement is made roller 96 grounds the circuit but the notches IIB bein small the momentum of the drum I4 carries the notch past said roller so that when the machine actually stops the roller is again on a portion of the film and insulated from the drum. Other forms of announcements might be made as for example the device might be associated with the traffic signal and advise pedestrians to wait for the green light or the like. Additionally the film might have sets of notches or slots spaced vertically to control other devices, mechanical or otherwise, for example, fingers operated by or with the film slots may control the operation of display devices or the like.

Fig. 8 shows a modification of the switching means for bringing about stoppage of the machine following the making of an announcement or at other predetermined times. In such figure a bracket I20, which may replace the bracket 14a of Figs. 1 and 2 carries a normally open microswitch I2I including an arm I22 pivoted at I23 and at its free end mounting a roller I24. This roller rides on the upper edge portion I25 of a film I25 trained about the drum I4 as above set forth.

A plunger I21 bears against the arm I22 and is normally held in such position thereby that contacts (not shown) of the micro-switch I2I are Cal in engagement and the switch I2I is closed. Film I26 in its upper edge I is provided at the desired spaced intervals with notches I28. As one of these notches moves or is carried under roller I24 the latter and the arm I22 may move downwardly permitting of a similar movement of plunger I21 whereby the contacts of switch I2I disengage to open a circuit.

This will result in the breaking of the circuit of motor I5 and by momentum'the notch I28 is carried beyond the roller I24 and the latter and arm I22 are again raised moving the plunger I21 upwardly closing switch IZI. With the construction of Fig. 8 wherein the film is notched in its edge portion provision is made for considerable movement of the switch roller I24 whereas with the construction first described the roller 96 has a movement only equal to the thickness of the film 3|.

Referring now to Fig. 9 the lower portion of that figure which is marked off by the broken lines I29 shows the basic control system of the machine. Assuming that a suitable voltage has been applied to the terminals I 3I and I32 and that the machine is at rest following an announcement the current flowing from terminal I3I flows through wire I33, terminal I34, wire I35, terminal I36, wire I31, a relay coil I38, a terminal I33, wire I40, terminal I4I, the motor I5, wire I42, terminal I43 to terminal I32. It will be noticed that the electric current has passed through a series circuit comprising a relay coil I38 which is of high resistance, and the mo.- tor I5 which is of comparatively low resistance.

From Ohms law it will be seen that a greater voltage is developed across the component of greater resistance. Distributing the total voltage applied to the terminal I3I and I32 virtually the entire voltage applied will develop across the terminals I36 and I39 of the relay coil fully energizing the latter and that little voltage will be applied across the terminal MI and I43 of the motor. The voltage applied across the motor terminals will be far below that necessary to produce the motors rated torque. As a result the armature I44 of the relay I38 will be held against the energized coil thus preventing a possible circuit through terminals I45 and I46 and the motor I5 will not function.

On momentary closing of a switch I41 the relay coil I38 is short circuited, then a low resistance path being offered to the electric current through the switch I41 the current no longer flows through the relay coil to the motor but flows through said switch to the motor. Now the current flows from terminal I3I through wire I33, terminal I34, wire I48, switch I41, terminal I4I, motor I5, wire I42, and terminal I43 to the terminal I32. As the relay coil I38 is no longer being energized a restoring spring I49 shifts the relay armature I44 upwardly closing the switch I50 whereby a circuit is completed between the tar minals I45 and I46. The voltage applied to the terminals I3I and I32 is now fully applied to the motor I5 causing the latter to develop its rated torque whereby it rotates the drum I4.

Since switch I50 is now closed it is noted that another path has been established providing a short circuit across the relay coil I38 and therefore opening of the switch I41 will not afiect the operation of the machine. This newly established short circuit is as follows: Starting at terminal I3 I, the electric current flows through wire I33, terminal I34, wire I35, terminal I36, a wire ISI to the micro-switch IZI' which-is-bcing held closed, the wire I52, terminal I46, the switch I50, terminal I45, the wire I53, terminal I39, wire 40, terminal MI and through the motor I5 and back to terminal I32. Just as long as this circuit is not interrupted the motor I5 will receive the full voltage applied to the terminals I3I and I32 although the switch I41 is open.

When one of the notches I28 in the upper edge of the film I26 moves under the roller I24 of the micro-switch I 2I the arm I22 of that switch moves downwardly permitting plunger I21 a similar move and thereby breaking the contacts (not shown) within said switch. The short circuit that was established across the coil of the relay I39 by the path through the micro-switch I2 I is momentarily broken. Instantly the current assumes a path from terminal I3I through wires I33 and I35 to terminal I36, then through the relay coil to the terminal I39 and through wire I40 to and through the motor to terminal I32.

As above set forth under these circumstances the greater part of the voltage applied to the terminals I3I and I32 is distributed across the terminals I36 and I39 fully energizing the relay coil. The armature I 44 of the relay is therefore now shifted against the action of the spring I49 opening the switch I50 whereupon on the microswitch IZI being again closed as the notch I28 moves from beneath the roller I24 there is no short circuit across the relay coil and the motor I5 having ceased to operate the machine is at rest.

The other circuits shown in Fig. 9 are concerned with the amplifier and an automatic time control means for bringing about a short circuiting of the relay coil I38 whereby to have the machine make an announcement each fifteen minutes. Thus referring further to said figure the amplifier is designated I54 and is connected with a speaker I55. At I56 is shown an electric clock motor driving cams I51 and I53 rotatable with the minute and second hands respectively (not shown) of said clock. Cam I51 has four cam faces I59 which successively engage and hold close, prior to the starting of an announcement and until such announcement is completed, a normally open switch I60. Cam I58 has a single cam surface I6I which once each minute engages and momentarily closes a normally open switch I62.

As the description proceeds it will become apparent that cams I51 and I58 may have other arrangements of cam surfaces and it will now be understood that the length of time during which the switches I60 and I6I are held closed depends on the length of the cam surfaces I59 and I 6i. The clock motor I56 is constantly operating and its current is from terminal I3I, through wire I33, terminal I34, wire I63, the clock motor I53, and a return wire I64 to the terminal I 32.

At a predetermined time as a minute or a fraction thereof before an announcement is made the cam surface I59 acts to close the switch through the amplifier I54 to warm up the latter. Such circuit is completed from a connection I65 with the wire I 63 through a wir I 65 to wire I61, through the switch I60 to terminal ISM, wire I 08, wire I69, and then through the amplifier and wire I10 to a connection III with the return wire I64. At a predeterminedinstance while. the switch I68 is being held closed switch :62 is closed to bring about energizing of the motor whereby the latter operates the drum I60 and thereby complete a circuit I4 to carry the filmpast the photo-electric cell to have the machine make an announcement.

The switch I 62 is only momentarily closed and it is replacing the manually operable switch I41 previously described. When the switch I62 closes it short circuits the relay coil I38 so as to have the motor operate and the closing of switch I62 momentarily establishes a circuit as follows. From terminal I 3I through wire I33, connection I34, wire I63, connection I65, wire I65, the switch I60, a wire I12, the switch I62, wire I13, a wire I'i4 connected with the terminal M5.

From there through wire I53 the circuit is completed to terminal I39 and through wire I40 to the motor terminal MI and thence through the motor to I32. Instantly switch I52 is closed, the above circuit is established and the coil I38 deenergized. Thereupon the spring I49 acting on armature I34 closes the switch I50 establishing the circuit which is thereafter controlled by the micro-switch I2I as above set forth.

When the announcement has been made a notch I23 in the film permits of momentary opening of the micro-switch I2I so as to break the circuit about the coil I38 bringing about energization of the latter so that the switch I50 is opened and the coil remains energized so that the motor is no longer operating on the micro-' switch being again closed when the notch I28 passes beyond the roller I24. In this connection itis to be understood that the momentum of the drum I4 and the other parts of the machine carries the notch beyond the roller.

When the four cam surfaces I59 are employed. the machine will make an announcement at each interval of fifteen minutes although it will be understood that the number of cam surfaces may be varied depending on the number of announcements desired and as above suggested the entire machine may be manually controlled throughthe switch I 41 provided means are employed to control the amplifier.

With the structure first described some difficulty is encountered in making an installation where the time device 30 must be synchronized with some other time device such as a clock on the wall or the like. With the circuit at Fig. 9 this difiiculty is not encountered since but one timing device I56 would be employed and that would be the clock on display, as for example, mounted on a wall.

Referring to Fig. 10 the spindle I8 is continued upwardly from the disclosure first described and above the plate I9 supports a series of plates Illa, IElb, I and I9d, each supporting a hollow roll of film. Such rolls are designated 3I, 3hr, 3Ib, 3Ic and Ma. respectively. In use the film moves from the center of a lower roll to the outside of the next upper roll and from the center of the top roll about the drum I4 and then to the outside of the lowermost roll 3|.

With this arrangement a very long film may be used so that the device'may operate over a period of hours. Any desired number of the additional plates and rolls of mm may be used and suitable guide rollers I15 are provided. As the one motor drives all the stacked plates and film rolls there is little expense in adding the structure of Fig. 10 to that of Fig. 1 when the additional time is needed.

Having thus set forth the nature of my inven-' tion, what I claim is:

1. In an announcing apparatus, a drum, an endless film having a sound track, said film disposed about said drum, a motor, a belt driven by said motor and trained over said drum and pressing the portion of the film disposed about the drum thereagainst whereby to rotate the latter and feed the film with the drum, and stationary means for translating the sound recorded in said sound track as the film is moved with the drum.

2. In an announcing apparatus, a drum, an endless film having a sound track, said film disposed about said drum, a motor, a belt driven by said motor and trained over said drum and pressing the portion of the film disposed about the drum thereagainst whereby to rotate the latter and feed the film with the drum, stationary means for translating the sound recorded in said sound track as the film is moved with the drum means for starting said apparatus at periodic time intervals, said film having notches therein, and means controlled by said notches for stopping said apparatus on movement of a notched portion of the film by a predetermined point.

3. In an announcing apparatus, a rotatable support, a rotatable drum, an endless hollow roll of film on said support, said film trained from the center of said roll over said drum and back to the outer side of the roll, means for rotating said support and thus said roll and for rotating said drum, said means for rotating the drum including a belt disposed about the drum on the portion of the film about the drum whereby to maintain the film against the drum and feed the film accurately with the drum, said film having a sound track, and translating means for reproducing the sound on said track as the film is moved with the drum.

4. In an announcing apparatus, a rotatable support, a rotatable drum, an endless hollow roll of film on said support, said film trained from the center of said roll over said drum and back to the outer side of the roll, means for rotating said support and thus said roll and for rotating said drum, said means for rotating the drum including a belt disposed about the drum on the portion of the film about the drum whereby to maintain the film against the drum and feed the film accurately with the drum, said film having a sound track, means for starting said apparatus at periodic intervals for the making of announcements, and means for automatically stopping said apparatus at the end of each announcement.

5. In an announcing apparatus, a rotatable support, a rotatable drum, an endless hollow roll of film on said support, said film trained from the center of said roll over said drum and back to the outer side of the roll, means for rotating said support and thus said roll and for rotating said drum, said means for rotating the drum including a belt disposed about the drum on the portion of the film about the drum whereby to feed the film accurately with the drum, said film having a sound track, said sound track comprising a plurality of complete announcements following one another, said film having a notch therein between each of said announcements, means for the starting of said apparatus at periodic intervals for the making of said announcements at predetermined times, and means controlled by said notches in the film for stopping said apparatus following each of said announcements, and translating means for reproducing the sound on said sound track as the film is moved with the drum.

6. In an announcing apparatus, a drum, an endless film having a sound track, said film disposed about said drum, a motor, a belt driven by said motor and trained over said drum and engaging the portion of the film disposed about the drum whereby to rotate the latter and feed the film with the drum, said sound track comprising a plurality of complete announcements following one another, said film having a notch therein between each of said announcements, means for the starting of said apparatus at periodic intervals for the making of said announcements at predetermined times, and means controlled by said notches in the film for stopping said apparatus following each of said announcements, and translating means for reproducing the sound on said sound track as the film is moved with the drum.

7. In an announcing apparatus, a horizontally disposed drum, a film having a sound track, said film disposed about said drum, means including a driven belt holding the film against the drum and driving said drum and said film, means supporting a photo-electric cell at the inner side of said film, a light source at the outer side of said film, and a lens system aligned with said light source, sound track carrying portion of the film and said photo-electric cell.

8. In an announcing apparatus, a drum, an endless film having a sound track, said film disposed about said drum, 9, motor, a belt driven by said motor and trained over said drum and engaging the portion of the film disposed about the drum whereby to maintain the film against the drum and rotate the latter and feed the film with the drum, a photo-electric cell disposed at the inner side of said film, a light source at the outer side of said film, and a lens system aligned with said light source, film and photo-electric cell.

9, In an announcing apparatus, a drum, an endless film having a sound track, said film disposed about said drum, a motor, a belt driven by said motor and trained oversaid drum and engaging the portion of the film disposed about the drum whereby to rotate the latter and feed the film with the drum, said sound track comprising a plurality of complete announcements following one another, said film having a notch in its edge between each of said announcements, means for the starting of said apparatus at periodic intervals for the making of said announcements at predetermined times, and means riding on the edge of said film and controlled by said notches in the edge of the film for stopping said apparatus following each of said announcements, and translating means for reproducing the sound on said sound track as the film is moved with the drum.

10. In an announcing apparatus, a drum, an endless film having a sound track, said film disposed about said drum, a motor, a belt driven by said motor and trained over said drum and engaging the portion of the film disposed about the drum whereby to rotate the latter and feed the film with the drum, said film having notches therein, and means controlled by said notches.

11. In an announcing apparatus, a sound record having a notch therein, a translating means for reproducing sound from said record, an electric motor for moving said record by said translatin-g means, a series circuit including said motor and a relay coil of greater resistance than said motor, a switch in said circuit and held in open position when said coil is energized, a switch in said circuit and normally maintained closed by said record but adapted to open on a notch reaching a predetermined position, another switch in said circuit to momentarily short circuit said coil whereby to have said first switch close to maintain the coil short circuited and the motor operating on opening of the third switch, and said record controlled switch adapted on its opening to disturb said short circuit about the coil whereby the latter is again energized and opens the second switch.

12. In an announcing apparatus, a sound record having a notch therein, atranslating means for reproducing sound from said record, an electric motor for moving said record by said translating means, a series circuit including said motor and a relay coil of greater resistance than said motor, a switch in said circuit and held in open position when said coil is energized, a switch in said circuit and normally maintained closed by said record but adapted to open on a notch reaching a predetermined position, another switch in said circuit to momentarily short circuit said coil whereby to have said first switch close to maintain the coil short circuited and the motor operating on opening of the third switch, and said record controlled switch adapted on its opening to disturb said short circuit about the coil whereby the latter is again energized and opens the second switch and a timing means for momentarily closing said third switch at predetermined intervals.

13. In an announcing apparatus, a rotatable support, a rotatable drum, an endless hollow roll of film resting on the upper side of said support, said support comprising a disc-like member slightly cone-shaped on its upper side whereby the film roll has a tendency to open and become loose and not bind, said film trained from the center of said roll over said drum and back to the outer side of said roll, means for rotating said support and thus said roll and for rotating said drum, said means for rotating the drum ineluding a belt disposed about the drum on the portion of the film about the drum whereby to maintain the film against the drum and feed the film accurately with the drum, said film having a sound track, and translating means for reproducing the sound on said track as the film is fed about the drum.

14. In an announcing apparatus, a rotatable support, a rotatable drum, an endless roll of film on said support, said film trained from the center of said roll over said drum and back to the outer side of the roll, means for rotating said support and thus said roll and for rotating said drum, said means for rotating the drum including a belt disposed about the dmm on the portion of the film about the drum whereby to maintain the film against the drum and feed the film accurately with the drum, said film having a sound track, and translating means for reproducing the sound on said track as the film is fed about the drum.

15. In an announcing apparatus, a drum, an endless film having a sound track, said film disposed about said drum, means for rotating the drum and holding the film thereagainst and thus feeding the film, means for translating the sound recorded on the film as the latter is fed, means for starting said apparatus, said film having notches therein, and means controlled by said notches for stopping said apparatus on movement of a notched portion of the film by a predetermined point.

16. In an announcing apparatus, a rotatable support, a plurality of plates on said support and spaced vertically one above the other, a rotatable drum, an endless film including a hollow roll on each of said plates, said film trained from the center of each roll to the outer side of the next uppermost roll and from the center of the top roll over said drum and back to the outer side of the lowermost roll, means for rotating said support and thus said rolls and for rotating the drum, said means for rotating the drum including a belt disposed about the drum on the portion of the film about the drum whereby to feed the film accurately with the drum, said film having a sound track, and translating means for reproducing the sound on said track as the film is moved with the drum.

17. In an announcing apparatus, a sound film, a translating means including an amplifier, means for moving said film past the translating means for reproduction of the sound recorded on the film, cam means for closing a circuit to said amplifier, other cam means to thereafter in predetermined timed relation with said circuit closing cam means close a circuit to and place in operation the means for moving the film past the translating means, and other means thereafter operable on predetermined movement of said film to open both said circuits.

HAZARD E. REEVES, 

